- Posted 26-Oct-2020
Release of the European Commission Work Programme for 2021
The European Commission has released its Work Programme for 2021 with the title “A Union of vitality in a world of fragility”. The new Work Programme outlines the priorities and the initiatives that the Commission will be working on for the next year.
The Work Programme begins with an assessment of the work that has been done by the Commission in 2020 based on the Political Guidelines of President von der Leyen. It then refers to the COVID-19 pandemic with the subsequent challenges it has posed to the society and the opportunities it has offered for a necessary change. Specifically, it is mentioned that “the pandemic has sharpened the need for Europe to lead the twin green and digital transitions and make its societies and economies more resilient.”
In general, the 2021 Work Programme aims to transform the Union into a healthier, more inclusive, more prosperous and more resilient place, while accelerating its long-term transformation into a greener economy, fit for the digital age. Through the investment made available through the NextGenerationEU and the EU’s revamped long-term budget, the Work Programme sees a shift from strategy to delivery. In line with this, the Work Programme contains new legislative initiatives and revisions of existing legislation across all of the six Political Priorities of President von der Leyen's Commission which are described below.
European Green Deal
The focus of the Commission, under this priority, will be to refurbish the relevant climate and energy legislation and align them with the newly proposed target to reduce emissions by at least 55% by 2030, through the “Fit for 55 Package”. The Commission will also present a series of measures on smart and sustainable transport, and will continue the implementation of the circular economy action plan, looking at eco-design and sustainable products. Finally, the Commission will follow up to the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 and the farm to fork strategy.
A Europe fit for the digital age
For the priority A Europe fit for the digital age, the Commission will propose a roadmap with clearly defined goals for 2030. In this regard, the action taken will be made through legislation covering the safety, liability, fundamental rights and data aspects of artificial intelligence and a Data Act to set the right conditions for better control and conditions for data sharing for citizens and businesses. The EU will also continue to work for an international agreement for a fair tax system and if this fails then the Commission will propose a digital levy in the first half of next year.
The new industrial strategy for Europe will be updated as well so that it reflects the impacts of COVID-19, the global competitive context, and the acceleration of the twin green and digital transitions.
An economy that works for people
The Commission will work for the full implementation and use of the SURE programme to help workers keep their income and ensure businesses can retain staff. Following this lane, the Commission will deploy an ambitious action plan for the full implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights which is considered that it will contribute to socio-economic recovery and resilience in the medium and long-term. Based on the lessons learned by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission will additionally come forward with a new EU strategic framework on health and safety at work.
In the meantime, the new European child guarantee, will aim at reducing children poverty and inequalities by guaranteeing the access of all children to basic services like health and education.
A stronger Europe in the world
Throughout the next year, the Commission will ensure that Europe plays a vital role on the world stage by leading the global response to secure a safe and accessible vaccine and strengthen the rules-based global multilateral system as well as bilateral, regional and global partnerships. In the same spirit, the Commission plans to lead reforms of the World Health Organisation and the World Trade Organisation in order to make both organisations fit for new realities.
The Commission will also continue to give full priority to the Eastern and Southern neighbourhood, to the Western Balkans and to Africa.
Promoting our European way of life
The pandemic has exposed the need to strengthen Europe’s crisis preparedness and management of cross-border health threats. For this reason the Commission will propose to reinforce the EU’s framework for detecting and responding to serious cross-border health threats, and strengthen the roles of existing agencies. As a second step, the Commission will propose to establish an agency for biomedical advanced research and development while a new pharmaceutical strategy will look at the security of Europe’s supply chain and ensure citizens can rely on safe, affordable and high-quality medicines. Moreover, the European health data space will be launched by the end of next year to harness data for better healthcare, better research, and better policy making to the benefit of patients.
The Commission also plans to continue work on the new pact on migration and asylum by proposing a number of measures on legal migration, which will include a “talent and skills” package.
The Security Union will as well be strengthened by taking measures on tackling organised crime, countering hybrid threats, taking a new approach on counter-terrorism measures and radicalisation and improving the detection, removal and reporting of child sexual abuse online. A new comprehensive strategy on combating antisemitism will also be presented, to complement and support Member States’ efforts.
As part of a broader effort to encourage a lifelong learning culture in Europe and facilitate job transitions, the Commission will propose an initiative on individual learning accounts to empower individuals to undertake training and manage their career, and set out a European approach to micro-credentials to widen personalised learning opportunities for all.
A new push for European democracy
The Commission will continue to build a Union of Equality and uphold Europe’s commitment to the protection of EU values as well as inclusion and equality in all of its senses, irrespective of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.
As part of this, the Commission will present an EU disability rights strategy, an EU strategy on the rights of the child and a new proposal to combat gender-based violence.
For the improvement of the resilience of European democracies, the European Democracy Action Plan will be a stepping stone by addressing the threats of external interference in European elections and countering disinformation, as well as supporting free and independent media.
To increase the knowledge and thereby improve policy responses with regards to widening regional disparities both before and after COVID-19, the Commission will put forward an assessment of the situation in European regions by looking at how cohesion policy, can empower economic recovery and the digital and green transitions and help address emerging social and economic issues.
The full list of the new policy objectives under the six priorities can be found in Annex 1 to the 2021 Work Programme.
Written by
Markos Papadopoulos
Officer
European Office of Cyprus